Local hunters help Curtis Custom Cutting in Verona donate venison to food banks

VERONA -- Curtis Custom Cutting helps hunters give to the needy as it continues to process donations for the Venison Donation Coalition in New York state.

The VDC, based in Bath, has been active in NYS since 1999. As of 2011, the total donations account for around 915,705 pounds of venison going to food banks over a period of 12 years.

Venison is purchased by the VDC and donated to nine regional food banks, including the Food Bank of CNY in Syracuse, through donations the coalition receives from hunters when they register for their permits. Hunters can choose to donate $1 to the program when they get their licenses in the fall. Roughly, each dollar buys a pound of venison burger. Each pound is portioned to feed four people.

Darrell Curtis of Curtis Custom Cutting in Verona said his family-run processing business has been working with the VDC since the late '90s, and although the total number of deer he processed this year is slightly lower than last year, donations went up.

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"We did see a slight increase in donations this year," said Curtis. "It's amazing that even through economic hardship, people continue to donate."

Curtis, 58, started processing deer with his father when he was 13 years old and still maintains a small family business. Curtis Custom Cutting processed nine deer and harvested 363 pounds for donation this year. Most of the venison, which has to be ground into burger, has been donated locally to the Rome Rescue Mission over the years.

Although he is still paid for the work, it is at a lesser rate than a private processing job. Normally, a deer would be processed for $60 not including taxes. All of the deer processed for donation average out at $50.42 per deer, costing Curtis about $9.58 per animal.

"I think that the VDC is a viable program," said Curtis. "We like to think we are making a difference in helping the less fortunate."